As Michael walked the streets he noticed everyone glaring at him. Women, men, officers, children, animals, rocks. They all looked on in amazement. The Mikester stood there. He knew what the people wanted. 

He motioned his hand out as if summoning the Gods of above. In one swoosh motion a soap box fell from above. He stood on it tossing his cigarette to the side.

In this thing of ours we throw the word LEADER around a lot. But I come to YOU. The people of this beautiful Thing Of Ours.

What exactly is a LEADER?

Is it the elegant attire of a bold suit? Is it the ability to have basically, by authority, 30-120 yes men running around? The SAUCE to sit back and collect taxes? Listen, Jimmy from across the street, there are no wrong answers in life. But if you agree that the things of that magnitude makes you a leader then maybe, just maybe silly rabbit, you need to re-evaluate your life. 

Let's take a little history check. How many people in this thing of ours were granted "leadership" but aren't remembered? That's right. Too many to count. Allow me to enlighten you.

CHARISMA a.k.a SAUCE

Every great leader has this characteristic. Image is obviously almost everything. The first thing a person sees when they enter this thing of ours is your bold suit. But what's next? The things they hear out of your mouth. One of the main things of being a leader? FORCING people to do the things they don't want to? No. That's a dictator. Instead, having the ability to have people do things they would normally double take. Things they would normally frown upon but instead they say to themselves, "Geezalou! He's so cool I'd eat boogers off a pile of shit if he said it was the right thing!" Yes Jimmy. The gift of the gab. Being able to talk to the masses not with force, but with elegance. People have to believe in you. Believe your product. Believe your mission. Believe your "facts". Believe your image. Are YOU someone the people secretly say in the back of their head when they notice you, "He could definitely fuck my wife for me". No? Anyways, you need to ooze sauce. I believe all leaders have mastered this trait.

FOCUS

You need to know where you're headed, along with a strong stated mission to drive people towards. Too many times we've heard the old saying 'Lead by example'. Well dammit whoever coined that phrase... give that man nothing short of a blowjob. Words couldn't have been any truer. Why should I follow someone who doesn't put in maximum effort? If I'm putting in more time, more grease, more sizzle, more everything than you; Why should I listen to you when you tell me to work harder? Fuck off ugly! When I look outside of my HQ room's window, you slamming your car door heading to handle your business way before I can process what the fuck is going on should be the reason why I'm up. I need to be able to look in front of me when we're climbing that mountain of success and see the person I call LEADER is going way harder than me. Is sweating way more than me. Has more scabs and bruises on their knees than...err wrong paper! You get the point. When the LEADER looks back at me to give me that look of assurance, I can always say, "Damn maybe I shouldn't be complaining because he put in 80 hours this week". You have to work so hard that your followers feel empowered. Emboldened. 

CONFIDENCE

First things first. If you don't believe in yourself I'm 100% sure no one will. That's something your mother should've told you. Same way no one wants to follow the boring? No one wants to follow the spineless. You need to have enough confidence to be STERN. What I mean is this. If there's a decision to be made, there are many of people who will be looking your way Jimmy. You can't stand in the middle of the room with sweaty pits & a speech that sounds like a broken record.

"What are we gonna do about Johnny Two Shoes, Boss man?"

"Errrr....I don't knoe Raggy.."

You're supposed to have the decisions before they even have a chance to disrespect you by thinking they can open their stink fat lips without permission and ask questions!

To backtrack on spineless. This thing of ours is a very gloomy, conniving business. Many come in the form of snakes. There have been many times I'm sure mafioso tried to sway the decision of a leader. Well guess what Jimmy? The moment you allow someone to sit here and sway your decision? You are no longer the fucking leader! You are now a puppet. I can give two farts who thinks what or contributes what ideas. At the end of the day, the LEADER, the BOSS, has the final say so.

This is a world of many squares but of even more circles. It goes round and round and round and...you get the point. I'm sure there were times when a LEADER had a longtime lineage friend in their crew/city. 

"Hey bro, what's up with a auth".

Any spineless bimbo would automatically be the goofball to grant them auth. But a REAL LEADER understands that he needs to have the confidence to make a decision and tell them no if they're undeserving, not good for business, or simply have others that deserve the opportunity. Confidence is key my friends.

SUPPORT

In any language in the world please show me where there's a "I" in "TEAM". That's right! Because it doesn't fucking exist. There is no better feeling than to have your LEADER look at you and give you a compliment on the hard work. In fact, it feels so good I go to my room and masturbate after Matty...wait. Wrong notes again...

When someone is being rewarded, being noticed, getting pats on the back for their hard work what do you think is going to happen? It's like having a pet. Every time you reward your pet for doing the right thing...the right thing then becomes the norm.

Many so called leaders don't even interact with their followers, let alone compliment their efforts. Take a time out and think about the next thing I'm about to say. It's true that it's you who GETS YOU TO THE TOP. But more importantly, it's those around you that KEEP YOU AT THE TOP.

Drinks water.

I could sit here all day and glamourize every characteristic of a leader, but maybe another day. Long story short. A LEADER is everything that @Richard-Harrow is.

But are YOU, the people other then him, a LEADER. Not a CREW LEADER, a LEADER. That'll be all today. Your welcome for lending me your ears and feel free to say something if you felt like I could've expanded more. Screw Canada.

And with that, Michael steps off the soap box then continues to walk away with every female in the crowd.

Matty slowly rises from his chair, applauding as Michael finishes his magnificent sermon.

What an absolutely breathtaking speech about what makes a great leader. Charisma, Focus, Confidence, Support the very foundations of leadership itself. Truly inspiring stuff.

Imagine being me. Sitting there thinking, "Ah, finally. Michael is about to acknowledge my leadership."

Only to discover my contribution to this historic lesson on leadership is apparently "Matty made me horny."

Cheers, Michael. Truly honoured to have contributed to such an important speech.

I am the ultimate leader and deserve to show my expertise within this world.

I can lead and I can teach but I am the one they look up too. I just do not know who they are just yet!

I second so many things that have been said here. 

Matty also makes me horny and also Freixenet comes from a long line of the greatest leaders these shores have ever witnessed. Second to none. Apart from that one time Midnight's great great great great grandfather was a leader. That was cool. 

You make several fair points, Michael. A leader should create opportunities for people to prove themselves, recognize those who put in the work, and prepare capable members to carry responsibility of their own.

Recognition should always be given when it is deserved. People are more likely to remain involved and accept greater responsibility when they know their contributions are noticed. Giving orders may produce followers, but helping people grow produces future leaders.

However, that does not mean someone should only contribute because they expect something in return. Capable people should understand why their work matters and believe in what the family is building, rather than waiting to be handed a treat whenever they behave properly.

the question of leadership has seemed to surface more in the past couple of days than it has previously. I like to think im a leader but i cannot actually say truly that i am one without bias so I look to my District and its members to help me reflect on that.

I may not be as charismatic as those around me but i like to think I bring focus and confidence and support to the table when it comes time for growth and introspection onto what things i can do better to accomodate those I work with, I dont see people as working under me as i try and give each and everyone a fair shot at whatever it is they want to do.

When I look into the obituaries of the recent deaths I wonder how many of those thought themselves to be a leader or seen eachother as a leader or whethertheir leaders failed them. I have no answer to this but it really makes one think that one person could be seen as a leader where the others around them see them as a solo leader.

Ive used the term"I" alot in this statement but when I look at "We" being South Philadelphia I like to believe that WE are leaders for one another in our own little slice of this world as we lead eachother by what we all bring to the table as an individual and are able to communicate and work alongside eachother without hate and with understanding and patience.